Cruz Criticizes College Football’s NIL Situation

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has expressed increasing concern over the regulation of name, image, and likeness (NIL) transactions in college athletics, describing the current state as “in jeopardy” back in 2023. Fast forward to 2025, and he’s labeled college football a specific “disaster.”

In response to a post on X, which remarked that the current state of college football is “unsustainable,” Cruz weighed in, pointing out the troubling trends.

A notable issue is with the Iowa State Cyclones, who recently replaced their long-term coach Matt Campbell with the vacant Penn State Nittany Lions. They are reportedly down to only 17 players on their roster for the upcoming season, with just one starter remaining. This situation essentially means they are rebuilding from scratch, aiming to be fully equipped by 2026.

Cruz has been vocal about the need for congressional intervention, critiquing the NCAA for its handling of these issues. “It’s an absolute crisis,” he stated on X, urging that action is necessary. “I’ve been tirelessly working to unite both Republicans and Democrats to salvage college sports. It would be tragic if we let this continue; it’s happening right in front of us.”

He introduced a legislative proposal in 2023 to establish stricter regulations, hoping to bring some order to the growing chaos. The intention was to balance the scales after observing programs paying top athletes through NIL deals, combined with the influx of players transferring annually via the transfer portal.

Cruz is a leading proponent of the SCORE Act, which aims to provide limited antitrust protections while ensuring that athletes do not become classified as school employees. The act seeks to shield the NCAA from potential lawsuits regarding eligibility regulations.

This month, Cruz’s supporters described the SCORE Act as a solution grounded in free market principles and individual freedoms. It is viewed as a logical approach to set clear guidelines amidst the confusing landscape of state laws concerning NIL.

The proposed legislation would prevent lawsuits under federal and state antitrust laws and also ensure that athletes receiving NIL compensation are not forced into the role of employees or unionized workers. Essentially, it treats student-athletes more like small business owners.

Some conservative groups argue that the SCORE Act is preferable to the opposing SAFE Act, which has gained more support among Democrats. However, the SCORE Act has attracted a degree of bipartisan backing, particularly in the House of Representatives.

The SCORE Act further stipulates that schools must allocate a portion of their revenue—specifically up to 22%—if certain revenue thresholds are met among a select group of high-income schools. Additionally, it prohibits using student fees to cover NIL payments, addressing concerns over financial fairness.